Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

---

Abstract
Background and Purpose: Some neuropsychological theories have been offered to explain Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD), so the purpose of this article is to review and compare three theories: Weak
Central Coherence (WCC), Lack of Theory of Mind (ToM) and deficit of Executive Functions (EFs) and
strategies Suggested educational treatment related to each pattern is examined.
Method: The present article was compiled using an analytical-comparative review of neuropsychological
theories and their implications in the design of play therapy and play-based interventions for children with
autism.
Findings: The review and analysis of the most common neuropsychological theories explaining the
characteristics and problems of children with autism spectrum disorder shows that the WCC model is
suitable for some functions of savant syndrome and high-functioning autistic children, such as early reading
and confusion in abstraction and understanding. The principle of the subject and sensory reactions to the
crowd provides a suitable explanation, and the ToM model explains the deficiencies of autistic children
in explaining the deficiencies in communication and social cognition, the deficiencies in understanding
metaphors, and the difficulty in humor. The model of deficits in EFs also provides a reasonable explanation
for the problem of stereotypes, inflexibility, assimilation and planning problems of autistic children.
Conclusion: The mentioned triple models have implications for play therapy and play-based interventions
such as: step-by-step drawing, story-making with pictures, use of animation or short film, joint attention
stimulation with puppets, imitation paly, pantomime and emoticons, social stories, mind reading training,
demonstration and role playing, use of attention cards and process cards for the implementation of activities
It offers daily and strategic games.
 

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Executive Functions (EFs), Neuro-psychological models, Play-based Interventions, Play Therapy, Theory of Mind (ToM), Weak Central Coherence (WCC)

Full-Text [PDF 410 kb]   (366 Downloads)    

---